Spring Kisses

Lipstick and I have an odd relationship. I will try something daring and then - if I decide I like it - it will no longer be daring for me and I'll pretty much wear it every day. I go through intense lipstick trends where it will be all I wear for weeks and weeks, and then switch to something else. My last blog post was about mascara and brow pencils (please check it out), but lipstick is something I'm also always trying out. While the last post was about staples, lipstick is something I can sometimes be lazy with and get into routine/forget to apply. However, even if it's not an every day thing, a good lipstick can make me a very happy girl indeed!

This winter, my two lipstick obsessions were the Kate Moss 107, which is a lovely berry red, and the Revlon Black Cherry, which was a dark plum. Both were lipsticks that I bought, tried out in the privacy of my room late at night, looked in the mirror and freaked out before rubbing it off and claiming that red/plum just didn't suit me and I'd have to find something else. Then, I'll warm to it and instantly swear that I will never find something as perfect! 

http://sheimagazine.com/

That being said, spring is happily, happily upon us. With the weather starting to get warmer and the meadows outside my window blooming with flowers, I am excited to pull out the sundresses and struggle to walk in strappy wedge sandals. However, this also sadly means trading in my darker shades of lipstick. Because as much as I am loving the warmer weather and promises of sun, it doesn't look too good for my current lipstick faves. So, just like before, I braved the mirror and a few new shades, and I'm finding some new ones that will definitely make recurrent appearances thoughout the next few months.

I know summery lipsticks is far from ground-breaking, as peaches and oranges and pinks just about scream summer, so the lipstick I have been loving is a bit different, which is why I wanted to talk about it. Like others before, I was dubious both when I picked it up, and when I first tried it out. Firstly, because it's not actually a lipstick, and secondly, because it's purple.

Selfie bravery

I'm going to blame it on the fact that I was procrastinating during finals last semester and therefore read far too many fashion magazines and beauty blogs. However it happened, I saw Pantone's color of 2014, which is called Radiant Orchid. It is a gorgeous shade of purple, and I saw lots of pictures of it making its way not only onto the runway in the fabrics used, but also in the makeup trends. The purple looks lovely as eyeshadow, of course, but I was really drawn to the color on the lips. I think it looks like just the right amount of futuristic to be a bit daring, but not costume-y. I was scared that it would looks as though you were super cold and your lips were going purple (attractive, I know) but the color actually looks amazing as a lipstick shade. At the same time, Maybelline came out with their Color Elixirs, and I was immediately in love with the liquid lipstick idea, as well as the pretty packaging. So, I decided to go ahead with the purple, and picked up their shade 040, Vision in Violet. 

 

Oooh, artsy shot! Spring candle with
aforementioned spring lipstick!

Despite the fact that I've had it since about mid December, I didn't actually leave the house with it on until a few days ago. I was feeling a bit daring and the weather was particularly good, so I decided to break out some spring colors. So, I tried on the purple lipstick…and actually kept it on! And after several checks in the mirror to make sure that I didn't look like a Capitol extra from The Hunger Games, I decided I really liked it. It's a bit bolder than I'm used to, and the brightness of the purple scared me a bit (and it looks very bright in the photo) but on your lips it looks so pretty!

This lipstick, as well as other orchid lip colors I've seen, is such a lovely shade, and I think it could compliment so many different skin tones. I'm quite pale from the winter, so the purple was a bit bold, but I can imagine it looking equally as good against a tanner complexion. As I was going out, I paired the lipstick with a bit of a dramatic eye, but again there are so many different ways to wear the color. And I'm excited to try out other looks with the purple. All in all, I'm glad I took a risk in picking up purple lipstick, and I can see it becoming a spring/summer favorite.

What do you guys think? How would you wear the color?